Triumph T120RT Serial Numbers Available

by Richard Backus

| 1/11/2008 11:08:03 AM

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Triumph T120RT Serial Numbers Available

If you’re a Triumph fan, you might be familiar with the special batch of hopped up Bonnevilles that Triumph prepared in 1970, the T120RT. Triumph converted some 200 standard 650cc machines to 750cc for racing, and as the years have rolled by these have become increasingly valuable machines. Increased value equals increased interest, but unfortunately, there’s been nothing to keep an unscrupulous restorer from hopping up a standard Bonneville and passing it off as an RT. So how do you tell if you have a “real” RT? Unfortunately, a lack of official records has made that impossible – until now, as Motorcycle Hall of Fame Executive Director Mark Mederski tells us in the following note. – Richard Backus

“For some time, reference has been made by collectors to an official list of specially modified for AMA dirt track racing Triumph T120R Bonneville motorcycles, commonly referred to as the “RT” Bonnevilles. Recently the list, probably complete, was discovered in the AMA Homologation files that were transferred to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum about 20 years ago. One collector has already told me this list is the ‘Holy Grail’ of Triumph motorcycle collecting and will be useful in identifying which machines were officially modified, with a suffix added to their serial numbers.

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“If you have a machine you feel may be from the 200-and-some machines in the batches of RTs prepped on the east and west coasts we will compare those numbers to the lists for you. Please send us your serial numbers and state whether they are with a chassis, and if yes, what chassis number in cases where the engine is in a frame other than original. We will supply back to you on Museum letterhead a statement of whether the number is from the lists in our files. We will keep these homologation numbers and your provided information in our files and confidential.

i am hopes that you may be able to assist me in locating a 67 triumph tt special that i built and modified then sold a few years ago. it was sold and resold several times and all the buyers contacted me. the last time i heard from my bike it was in the capable hands of one david leavit in pa. i heard he moved to florida to pursue a carrier in bass fishing. the vin # is du54090 67 tt. if possible i would be interested in repurchasing the machine in like configuration as when sold.

Hi. I have just re-imported a Triumph tr6c to England, which has a set or T120rt barrels and pistons fitted. As I am led to believe, this conversion took place in 1970 at the big bike shop in Texas. I am going to sell the barrels and pistons, as I don't believe the bike to be a T120rt, as it is a tiger and not a bonneville. Are there any forums to contact, relating to the T120rt. Thanks. Andy

paul sandy

4/28/2008 9:05:55 PM

I just recently aquired a triumph motorcycle and have been tring to
find more info on it and I see on your sight about the t120rt, the
number stamped into the bottom of the jug is t120rt could this be
one of the bikes you spoke of on your sight?

joe drwal

2/19/2008 12:12:56 PM

i have a triumph . engine has a extra t on it .engine number is ( T
T 120 R ) ng 36947 . thanks joe

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